Image correction using individual manipulation of microlenses in a microlens array

ABSTRACT

A system constructs a composite image using focus assessment information of image regions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available prioritydates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefitsunder 35 USC § 119(e) for provisional patent applications), andincorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of thefollowing listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to theextent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the presentapplication also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s)from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office(USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computerprograms require that patent applicants reference both a serial numberand indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation inpart (see PTO Gazette Notice 18 Mar. 2003, “Benefit of Prior-FiledApplication”). The present applicant entity has provided below aspecific reference to the application(s) from which priority is beingclaimed as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that thestatute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does notrequire either a serial number or any characterization such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing,applicant entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs havecertain data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity isdesignating the present application as a continuation in part of itsparent applications, but expressly points out that such designations arenot to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/oradmission as to whether or not the present application contains any newmatter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled LENS DEFECT CORRECTION, U.S.application Ser. No. 10/738,626 naming William D. Hillis, Nathan P.Myhrvold, and Lowell L. Wood Jr. as inventors, filed 16 Dec. 2003 byexpress mail, which is currently co-pending, or is an application ofwhich a currently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit ofthe filing date.

2. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled IMAGE CORRECTION USINGMICROLENS ARRAY AS A UNIT, naming William D. Hillis, Nathan P. Myhrvold,and Lowell L. Wood Jr. as inventors, U.S. application Ser. No.10/764,340 filed 21 Jan. 2004, which is currently co-pending, or is anapplication of which a currently co-pending application is entitled tothe benefit of the filing date.

3. For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation in part of currently co-pendingUnited States patent application entitled IMAGE CORRECTION USINGINDIVIDUAL MANIPULATION OF MICROLENSES IN A MICROLENS ARRAY, naming W.Daniel Hillis and Lowell L. Wood Jr. as inventors, U.S. application Ser.No. 10/764,431 filed 21 Jan. 2004, which is currently co-pending, or isan application of which a currently co-pending application is entitledto the benefit of the filing date.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates, in general, to imaging.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to: capturing aprimary image with a microlens array at a primary position, themicrolens array having at least one microlens deviation that exceeds afirst tolerance from a target optical property; determining at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image; capturing another image withat least one microlens of the microlens array at another position;determining a focus of at least one region of the other image relativeto a focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image;and constructing a composite image in response to the at least oneregion of the other image having a sharper focus relative to the focusof the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application. Inaddition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in theclaims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to machinery and/or circuitry and/or programming for effectingthe herein-referenced method aspects; the machinery and/or circuitryand/or programming can be virtually any combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware configured to effect the foregoing-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to: a photo-detectorarray; a microlens array having at least one microlens deviation thatexceeds a first tolerance from a target optical property; a controllerconfigured to position at least one microlens of the microlens array ata primary and another position relative to the photo-detector array andto cause an image capture signal at the primary and the other position;and an image construction unit configured to construct at least oneout-of-focus region of a first image captured at the primary positionwith a more in-focus region of another image captured at the otherposition. In addition to the foregoing, other system aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent application.

In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to: a microlensarray having at least one microlens deviation that exceeds a firsttolerance from a target optical property; an electromechanical systemconfigurable to capture a primary image with at least one microlens ofthe microlens array at a primary position said electromechanical systemincluding at least one of electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memorydevice, and electrical circuitry having a communications device; anelectromechanical system configurable to capture another image with theat last one microlens of the microlens array at another position saidelectromechanical system including at least one of electrical circuitryoperably coupled with a transducer, electrical circuitry having at leastone discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at leastone integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program,electrical circuitry having a memory device, and electrical circuitryhaving a communications device; an electromechanical system configurableto determine at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image saidelectromechanical system including at least one of electrical circuitryoperably coupled with a transducer, electrical circuitry having at leastone discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at leastone integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program,electrical circuitry having a memory device, and electrical circuitryhaving a communications device; an electromechanical system configurableto determine a focus of at least one region of the other image relativeto a focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary imagesaid electro-mechanical system including at least one of electricalcircuitry operably coupled with a transducer, electrical circuitryhaving at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving a general purpose computing device configured by a computerprogram, electrical circuitry having a memory device, and electricalcircuitry having a communications device; an electromechanical systemconfigurable to determine a focus of at least one region of the otherimage relative to a focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of theprimary image said electromechanical system including at least one ofelectrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry having a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program, electrical circuitry having a memory device, andelectrical circuitry having a communications device; and anelectromechanical system configurable to construct a composite image inresponse to the at least one region of the other image having a sharperfocus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focus region ofthe primary image said electromechanical system including at least oneof electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry having a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program, electrical circuitry having a memory device, andelectrical circuitry having a communications device. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to: capturing aprimary image with a microlens array at a primary position, saidcapturing effected with a photo-detector array having an imaging surfacedeviation that exceeds a first tolerance from a target surface position;determining at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image;capturing another image with at least one microlens of the microlensarray at another position; determining a focus of at least one region ofthe other image relative to a focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image; and constructing a composite image inresponse to the at least one region of the other image having a sharperfocus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focus region ofthe primary image. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspectsare described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of thepresent application.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system aspectsare set forth and described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detaileddescription) and/or drawings of the present application.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity;simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices and/orprocesses described herein, as defined solely by the claims, will becomeapparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a front-plan view of image 100 of a person (e.g., person202 of FIG. 2) projected onto photo-detector array 102.

FIG. 2 depicts a side-plan view of lens system 200 that can give rise toimage 100 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a high level logic flowchart of a process.

FIG. 4 depicts a side-plan view of the system of FIG. 2 whereinmicrolens array 204 has been moved in accordance with aspects of theprocess shown and described in relation to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another side-plan view of the system of FIG. 2wherein microlens array 204 has been moved in accordance with aspects ofthe process shown and described in relation to FIG. 3.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, and with reference now to FIG. 1, shownis a front-plan view of image 100 of a person (e.g., person 202 of FIG.2) projected onto photo-detector array 102. Image 100 is shown asdistorted due to defects in a microlens array through which image 100has been projected (e.g., microlens array 204 of lens system 200 of FIG.2). First portion 104 of image 100 is illustrated as large and blurry,which can occur when a microlens deviation causes first portion 104 ofimage 100 to come to a focus in front of a surface of photo-detectorarray 102. Second, third, and fourth portions 106 of image 100 areillustrated as right sized, which can occur when microlenses of themicrolens array cause portions 106 to correctly focus on an imagingsurface of photo-detector array 102. Fifth portion 108 of image 100 isshown as small and faint, which can occur when a microlens deviationcauses fifth portion 108 to come to a focus (virtual) behind an imagingsurface of photo-detector array 102. In addition, although not expresslyshown, those having skill in the art will appreciate that variousmicrolens defects could also cause the image to be distorted in x-y;those having skill in the art will also appreciate that differentcolored wavelengths of light can in and of themselves focus at differentpositions due to differences in refraction of the different coloredwavelengths of light. In addition, although not expressly shown herein,those having skill in the art will appreciate that the subject matterdisclosed herein may serve to remedy misfocusings/distortions arisingfrom defects other than lens defects, such as, for example, defects inthe imaging surface of photo-detector array 102 and/or defects in framesthat hold microlens arrays.

Referring now to FIG. 2, depicted is a side-plan view of lens system 200that can give rise to image 100 of FIG. 1. Microlens array 204 of lenssystem 200 is illustrated as located at a primary position and havingmicrolens deviations that give rise to the five different portions ofimage 100 shown and described in relation to FIG. 1. First portion 104of image 100 is illustrated as misfocused in front of an imaging surfaceof photo-detector array 102, where the misfocusing is due to a deviationof microlens 252. Second, third, and fourth portions 106 of image 100are illustrated as respectively right sized and focused by microlenses250, 254, and 258 on an imaging surface of photo-detector array 102. (Itis recognized that in side plan view the head and feet of person 202would appear as lines; however, for sake of clarity they are shown inprofile in FIG. 2 to help orient the reader relative to FIG. 1.) Fifthportion 108 is shown as small and faint, and (virtually) misfocusedbehind an imaging surface of photo-detector array 102, where themisfocusing is due to a deviation of microlens 256. In addition,although not expressly shown herein, those having skill in the art willappreciate that the subject matter of FIG. 2 is also illustrative ofthose situations in which one or more individual photo-detectors formingpart of the imaging surface of photo-detector array 102—rather than oneor more microlenses of microlens array 204—deviate from one or morepredefined positions by amounts such that image misfocuses/distortionsarising from such deviations are unacceptable. That is, insofar as imagemisfocusing or distortion could just as easily arise from photo-detectorarray 102 having mispositioned photo-detectors as from microlens array204 having mispositioned/defective lenses, the subject matter disclosedherein may serve to remedy misfocusings/distortions arising from defectsin the imaging surface of photo-detector array 102.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, further shown are components that canserve as an environment for the process shown and described in relationto FIG. 3. Specifically, controller 208 is depicted as controlling theposition of the various microlenses 250-258 of microlens array 204 oflens system 200 (e.g., via use of one or more feedback controlsubsystems). Image capture unit 206 is illustrated as receiving imagedata from photo-detector array 102 and receiving control signals fromcontroller 208. Image capture unit 206 is shown as transmitting capturedimage information to focus detection unit 210. Focus detection unit 210is depicted as transmitting focus data to image construction unit 212.Image construction unit 212 is illustrated as transmitting a compositeimage to image store/display unit 214.

With reference now to FIG. 3, depicted is a high level logic flowchartof a process. Method step 300 shows the start of the process. Methodstep 302 depicts capturing a primary image with a microlens array havingone or more microlenses at one or more primary positions, the microlensarray having at least one microlens deviation that exceeds a firsttolerance from a target optical property. Examples of the array havingat least one microlens deviation that exceeds a first tolerance from atarget optical property include (a) where at least one actual microlensposition exceeds a first tolerance from at least one defined microlensposition, and (b) where at least one microlens of the microlens arrayhas at least one focal length that exceeds a first tolerance from adefined focal length (e.g., a microlens deviation that would producefifth portion 108 of image 100 at some place behind an imaging surfaceof photo-detector array 102 or a microlens deviation that would produceportion 104 at some place in front of the imaging surface ofphoto-detector array 102 where the distance in front or back of theimaging surface exceeds a defined tolerance distance where an imagecaptured with photo-detector array 102 is deemed acceptable). Specificinstances of the foregoing include a microlens of the microlens arrayhaving at least one spherical aberration that exceeds a first tolerancefrom a defined spherical aberration, and a microlens of the microlensarray having at least one cylindrical aberration that exceeds a firsttolerance from a defined cylindrical aberration. Alternatively, themicrolens array may have one or more microlenses having some combinationof such defects. In one implementation, method step 302 includes thesub-step of capturing the primary image at an average primary focalsurface location of the microlens array (e.g., a defined focal surfaceof the microlens array where an image would form if the microlens arrayhad no microlenses having aberrations outside a specified tolerance). Inanother implementation, method step 302 includes the sub-step ofcapturing the primary image with a photo-detector array at the averageprimary focal surface location of the microlens array (e.g., positioningthe microlens array such that a defined focal surface of the microlensarray coincides with an imaging surface of a photo-detector array).

Referring again to FIG. 2, one specific example of method step 302 (FIG.3) would be controller 208 directing lens system 200 to position one ormore microlenses of microlens array 204 at one or more primarypositions, and thereafter instructing image capture unit 206 to capturean image from photo-detector array 102.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 304 illustrates determiningat least one out-of-focus region of the primary image (or determining atleast one focused region of the primary image). In one implementation,method step 304 includes the sub-step of calculating a Fourier transformof at least a part of the primary image (e.g., sharp, or in-focus imagesproduce abrupt transitions that often have significant high frequencycomponents).

Referring again to FIG. 2, one specific example of method step 304 (FIG.3) would be focus detection unit 210 performing a Fourier transform andsubsequent analysis on at least a part of an image captured by imagecapture unit 206 when the one or more microlenses of microlens array 204were at the one or more primary positions. In this example, focusdetection unit 210 could deem portions of the image having significanthigh frequency components as “in focus” images. As a more specificexample, the Fourier transform and analysis may be performed on one ormore parts of the image that are associated with one or more microlenses250-258 of microlens array 204.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 305 illustrates mapping theat least one out-of-focus region to one or more microlenses of themicrolens array. In one implementation, method step 305 includes thesub-steps of projecting mathematically from a surface of aphoto-detector to the microlens array; and selecting one or moremicrolenses of the microlens array in response to said projecting.

Referring again to FIG. 2, one specific example of method step 305 (FIG.3) would be controller 208 performing a mathematical mapping based on(a) known geometries of microlenses 250-258 relative to photo-detectorarray 102 and (b) focus/out-of-focus information received from focusdetection unit 210. In one exemplary implementation, controller 208 ispre-programmed with knowledge of the position/orientation ofphoto-detector array 102 and can thus calculate the mathematicalprojection based on controller 208's positioning of microlenses 250-258.In other exemplary implementations, controller 208 additionally controlsand/or monitors the positioning of photo-detector array 102 through oneor more control and/or monitoring subsystems, and thus hasacquired—rather than pre-programmed—knowledge of theposition/orientation of photo-detector array 102 upon which to base thecalculations.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 306 illustrates moving atleast a part of the mapped one or more microlenses of the microlensarray to one or more other positions.

Referring again to FIG. 2, one specific example of method step 306 (FIG.3) would be controller 208 causing a control subsystem of lens system200 to move one or more individual microlenses 250-258 of microlensarray 204. In one exemplary implementation, MEMS control systems andtechniques are used. In other exemplary implementations, conventionalcontrol systems and techniques are used to effect the movement andcontrol of microlenses 250-258 of microlens array 204.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 307 shows capturing anotherimage with the one or more microlenses at the other positions to whichthey have been moved. In one exemplary implementation, method step 306includes the sub-step of capturing the other image at the averageprimary focal surface location of the microlens array with itsindividual microlenses at their primary positions (e.g., one or moremicrolenses 250-258 of microlens array 204 are moved, but the image iscaptured on about the same surface as that upon which the primary imagewas captured, such as shown and described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5).In another exemplary implementation, the step of capturing the otherimage at a primary focal surface location of the microlens array withits individual microlenses at their primary positions further includesthe sub-steps of moving at least a part of the microlens array (e.g., atleast one microlens) to the other position; and capturing the otherimage with a photo-detector array which remains stationary at theprimary focal surface location of the one or more microlenses at theirone or more primary positions (e.g., one or more microlenses 250-258 ofmicrolens array 204 are moved to one or more other positions, whilephoto-detector array 102 remains stationary, such as shown and describedin relation to FIGS. 4 and 5). In another exemplary implementation, thestep of moving at least a part of the microlens array to the otherposition further includes the sub-step of moving the at least a part ofthe microlens array to the other position within at least one distanceconstrained by a predefined aberration from at least one definedmicrolens position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 4 and/or 5, one specific example of methodstep 306 (FIG. 3) would be controller 208 directing lens system 200 toposition one or more of microlenses 250-258 of microlens array 204 atone or more positions other than their primary positions, and thereafterinstructing image capture unit 206 to capture an image fromphoto-detector array 102. FIG. 4 shows and describes moving at least aportion of microlens array 204 forward of a primary position (e.g., suchas by controller 208 causing a MEMS control system to move microlens 256of microlens array 204 forward relative to an imaging surface ofphoto-detector array 102, or by causing microlens array 204 to becompressed such that microlens 256 of microlens array 204 moves forwardrelative to the imaging surface of photo-detector array 102). FIG. 5shows and describes moving at least a portion of the microlens arrayrearward of the primary position (e.g., such as by controller 208causing a MEMS control system to move microlens 252 of microlens array204 rearward relative to an imaging surface of photo-detector array 102,or by causing microlens array 204 to be compressed such that microlens252 of microlens array 204 moves rearward relative to an imaging surfaceof photo-detector array 102).

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 308 depicts determining afocus of at least one region of the other image relative to a focus ofthe at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image. In oneimplementation, method step 308 includes the sub-step of calculating aFourier transform of at least a part of at least one region of the otherimage (e.g., sharp or in-focus images produce abrupt transitions thatoften have significant high frequency components). In oneimplementation, the step of calculating a Fourier transform of at leasta part of at least one region of the other image (e.g., sharp orin-focus images produce abrupt transitions that often have significanthigh frequency components) includes the sub-step of mapping at least oneregion of the primary image with at least one region of the other image(e.g., mapping an out-of-focus region of the first image to acorresponding region of the second image). As a more specific example,the Fourier transform and analysis may be performed on one or more partsof the image that are associated with one or more microlenses of themicrolens array (e.g., mapping at least one region of the primary imageassociated with at least one specific microlens against the at least oneregion of the other image associated with the at least one specificmicrolens).

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 4 and/or 5, one specific example of methodstep 308 (FIG. 3) would be focus detection unit 210 performing a Fouriertransform and subsequent analysis on at least a part of an imagecaptured by image capture unit 206 when at least one microlens ofmicrolenses 250-258 of microlens array 204 was at the other positionspecified by controller 208.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 310 depicts constructing acomposite image in response to the at least one region of the otherimage having a sharper focus relative to the focus of the at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image. In one implementation, thestep of constructing a composite image in response to the at least oneregion of the other image having a sharper focus relative to the focusof the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image includesthe sub-step of replacing at least a part of the out-of-focus region ofthe primary image with at least a part of the at least one region of theother image. In yet another implementation, the step of constructing acomposite image in response to the at least one region of the otherimage having a sharper focus relative to the focus of the at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image includes the sub-step ofutilizing at least one of tiling image processing techniques, morphingimage processing techniques, blending image processing techniques, andstitching image processing techniques.

In yet another implementation, the step of constructing a compositeimage in response to the at least one region of the other image having asharper focus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image includes the sub-steps of correlating afeature of the primary image with a feature of the other image;detecting at least one of size, color, and displacement distortion of atleast one of the primary image and the other image; correcting thedetected at least one of size, color, and displacement distortion of theat least one of the primary image and the other image; and assemblingthe composite image using the corrected distortion. In yet anotherimplementation, the step of constructing a composite image in responseto the at least one region of the other image having a sharper focusrelative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of theprimary image includes the sub-step of correcting for motion between theprimary and the other image.

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 4 and/or 5, one specific example of methodstep 302 (FIG. 3) would be image construction unit 212 creating acomposite image by replacing those portions of an image of person 202captured at a primary position with more in-focus portions of an imageof person 202 captured by image capture unit 206 when microlens array204 was at the other position. In one implementation of the example,image construction unit 212 corrects for the motion between images usingconventional techniques if such correction is desired. In anotherimplementation of the example, motion correction is not used.

With reference again to FIG. 3, method step 312 shows a determination ofwhether an aggregate change in focus, relative to the primary positionof method step 302, has exceeded a maximum expected aberration of atleast one lens of the microlens array. For example, even with arelatively poor quality microlens array, there will typically be anupper manufacturing limit beyond which microlens aberrations are notexpected to go (e.g., the microlens array has manufacturing criteriasuch that each microlens in the array provide a focal length of 5mm+/−0.05 mm).

Referring again to FIGS. 2, 4 and/or 5, one specific example of methodstep 312 (FIG. 3) would be controller 208 comparing an aggregatemovement in a defined direction against a pre-stored upper limitdeviation value. In an implementation of the example illustrated in FIG.4, if microlens array 204 has manufacturing criteria such as a focallength of 5 mm+/−0.05 mm, controller 208 will determine whether thetotal forward movement of microlens 256 of microlens array 204 isgreater than 0.05 mm relative to microlens 256's primary position. In animplementation of the example illustrated in FIG. 5, if microlens array204 has manufacturing criteria such as a focal length of 5 mm+/−0.05 mm,controller 208 will determine whether the total rearward movement ofmicrolens 252 of microlens array 204 is greater than 0.05 mm relative tomicrolens 252's primary position.

With reference again to FIG. 3, if the inquiry of method step 312 yieldsa determination that the aggregate changes in focuses has met orexceeded the maximum expected aberration of at least one lens of themicrolens array, the process proceeds to method step 314. Method step314 illustrates that the current composite image (e.g., of method step310) is stored and/or displayed. One specific example of method step 314would be image store/display unit 214 either storing or displaying thecomposite image.

Method step 316 shows the end of the process.

Returning to method step 312, shown is that in the event that the upperlimit on microlens array tolerance of at least one lens of the microlensarray has not been met or exceeded, the process proceeds to method step306 and continues as described herein.

Referring now to FIG. 4, depicted is a side-plan view of the system ofFIG. 2 wherein microlens 256 has been moved in accordance with aspectsof the process shown and described in relation to FIG. 3. Microlens 256of lens system 200 is illustrated as having been moved to anotherposition forward of its primary position which gave rise to microlens256's respective portion of image 100 shown and described in relation toFIGS. 1 and 2. Specifically, microlens 256 of microlens array 204 isillustrated as repositioned such that fifth portion 108 of image 100 isright sized and focused on an imaging surface of photo-detector array102 (e.g., as shown and described in relation to method step 306). Inone implementation, fifth portion 108 of image 100 can be combined withpreviously captured in focus and right sized portions 106 (e.g., FIGS. 1and 2) to create a composite image such that the defects associated withfifth portion 108 as shown and described in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2are alleviated (e.g., as shown and described in relation to method step310). The remaining components and control aspects of the various partsof FIG. 4 function as described elsewhere herein.

With reference now to FIG. 5, illustrated is another side-plan view ofthe system of FIG. 2 wherein microlens 252 has been moved in accordancewith aspects of the process shown and described in relation to FIG. 3.Microlens 252 of lens system 200 is illustrated as having been moved toanother position rearward of its primary position which gave risemicrolens 252's respective portion of image 100 shown and described inrelation to FIG. 1. Specifically, microlens 252 of microlens array 204is illustrated as positioned such that first portion 104 of image 100 isright sized and focused on an imaging surface of photo-detector array102 (e.g., as described in relation to method step 306). In oneimplementation, first portion 104 of image 100 can be combined withpreviously captured in focus and right sized portions 106 of FIGS. 1 and2, 108 of FIG. 4) to create a composite image such that the defectsassociated with first portion 104 as shown and described in relation toFIGS. 1 and 2 are alleviated (e.g., as shown and described in relationto method step 310). The remaining components and control aspects of thevarious parts of FIG. 5 function as described elsewhere herein.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems described herein can beeffected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and that thepreferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the processes aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a hardware and/orfirmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for a solely software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes described herein may be effected, none of which isinherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be utilized is achoice dependent upon the context in which the vehicle will be deployedand the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability)of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that optical aspects of implementations will requireoptically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodas notorious by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thepresent invention may be implemented via Application Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or otherintegrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognizethat the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or morecomputer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or moreprograms running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or moreprograms running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or asvirtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitryand/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be wellwithin the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that themechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed asa program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention applies equally regardless of theparticular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out thedistribution. Examples of a signal bearing media include, but are notlimited to, the following: recordable type media such as floppy disks,hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, and computer memory; andtransmission type media such as digital and analog communication linksusing TDM or IP based communication links (e.g., packet links).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein which can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanicalsystems having a wide range of electrical components such as hardware,software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof; and a widerange of components that may impart mechanical force or motion such asrigid bodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, andelectro-magnetically actuated devices, or virtually any combinationthereof. Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system”includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupledwith a transducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal,etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computerconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessorconfigured by a computer program which at least partially carries outprocesses and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forminga memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), electricalcircuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communicationsswitch, or optical-electrical equipment), and any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, as well asother systems such as motorized transport systems, factory automationsystems, security systems, and communication/computing systems. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that electro-mechanical as used hereinis not necessarily limited to a system that has both electrical andmechanical actuation except as context may dictate otherwise.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use standard engineering practices to integrate suchdescribed devices and/or processes into image processing systems. Thatis, at least a portion of the devices and/or processes described hereincan be integrated into an image processing system via a reasonableamount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognizethat a typical image processing system generally includes one or more ofa system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatileand non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices,such as a touch pad or screen, control systems including feedback loopsand control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing lens position and/orvelocity; control motors for moving/distorting lenses to give desiredfocuses. A typical image processing system may be implemented utilizingany suitable commercially available components, such as those typicallyfound in digital still systems and/or digital motion systems.

The foregoing described embodiments depict different componentscontained within, or connected with, different other components. It isto be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary,and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented whichachieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangementof components to achieve the same functionality is effectively“associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, anytwo components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality canbe seen as “associated with” each other such that the desiredfunctionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedialcomponents. Likewise, any two components so associated can also beviewed as being “operably connected” or “operably coupled” to each otherto achieve the desired functionality.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that,based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from this invention and its broader aspects and,therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope allsuch changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scopeof this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that theinvention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will beunderstood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein,and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appendedclaims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”“comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising”are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including,but not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by thosewithin the art that if a specific number of an introduced claimrecitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in theclaim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claimsmay contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one ormore” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrasesshould not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claimrecitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particularclaim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventionscontaining only one such recitation, even when the same claim includesthe introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinitearticles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically beinterpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holdstrue for the use of definite articles used to introduce claimrecitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introducedclaim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art willrecognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to meanat least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “tworecitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least tworecitations, or two or more recitations).

1.-43. (canceled)
 44. A system comprising: a photo-detector array; amicrolens array having at least one microlens deviation that exceeds afirst tolerance from a target optical property; a controller configuredto position at least one microlens of said microlens array at a primaryand another position relative to said photo-detector array and to causean image capture signal at the primary and the other position; and animage construction unit configured to construct at least oneout-of-focus region of a first image captured at the primary positionwith a more in-focus region of another image captured at the otherposition.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein said controller configuredto position at least one microlens of said microlens array at a primaryand another position relative to said photo-detector array and to causean image capture signal at the primary and the other position furthercomprises: a transducer system having a control signal input operablycoupled with said controller and a motion output operably coupled withsaid at least one microlens of said microlens array.
 46. The system ofclaim 45, wherein said transducer system further comprises an electricmotor operably coupled to move said at least one microlens of saidmicrolens array
 47. The system of claim 44, wherein said imageconstruction unit configured to construct at least one out-of-focusregion of a first image captured at the primary position with a morein-focus region of another image captured at the other position furthercomprises: circuitry for constructing at least one out-of-focus regionof a first image captured at the primary position with a more in-focusregion of another image captured at the other position said circuitryincluding at least one of electrical circuitry having at least onediscrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneintegrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one applicationspecific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having a generalpurpose computing device configured by a computer program, electricalcircuitry having a memory device, and/or electrical circuitry having acommunications device.
 48. A system comprising: a microlens array havingat least one microlens deviation that exceeds a first tolerance from atarget optical property; an electro-mechanical system configurable tocapture a primary image with at least one microlens of the microlensarray at a primary position said electro-mechanical system including atleast one of electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer,electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memorydevice, and/or electrical circuitry having a communications device; anelectro-mechanical system configurable to capture another image with theat last one microlens of the microlens array at another position saidelectro-mechanical system including at least one of electrical circuitryoperably coupled with a transducer, electrical circuitry having at leastone discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at leastone integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program,electrical circuitry having a memory device, and/or electrical circuitryhaving a communications device; an electro-mechanical systemconfigurable to determine at least one out-of-focus region of theprimary image said electro-mechanical system including at least one ofelectrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry having a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program, electrical circuitry having a memory device, and/orelectrical circuitry having a communications device; anelectro-mechanical system configurable to determine a focus of at leastone region of the other image relative to a focus of the at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image said electro-mechanical systemincluding at least one of electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memorydevice, and/or electrical circuitry having a communications device; anelectro-mechanical system configurable to determine a focus of at leastone region of the other image relative to a focus of the at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image said electro-mechanical systemincluding at least one of electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electricalcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memorydevice, and/or electrical circuitry having a communications device; andan electro-mechanical system configurable to construct a composite imagein response to the at least one region of the other image having asharper focus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image said electro-mechanical system including atleast one of electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer,electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit,electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit,electrical circuitry having a general purpose computing deviceconfigured by a computer program, electrical circuitry having a memorydevice, and/or electrical circuitry having a communications device. 49.A method comprising: capturing a primary image with a microlens array ata primary position, said capturing effected with a photo-detector arrayhaving an imaging surface deviation that exceeds a first tolerance froma target surface position; determining at least one out-of-focus regionof the primary image; capturing another image with at least onemicrolens of the microlens array at another position; determining afocus of at least one region of the other image relative to a focus ofthe at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image; andconstructing a composite image in response to the at least one region ofthe other image having a sharper focus relative to the focus of the atleast one out-of-focus region of the primary image.
 50. The method ofclaim 49, wherein said capturing effected with a photo-detector arrayhaving an imaging surface deviation that exceeds a first tolerance froma target surface position further comprises: the photo-detector arrayhaving at least one photo-detector position that exceeds a firsttolerance from at least one defined photo-detector position.
 51. Thesystem of claim 44, wherein said image construction unit configured toconstruct at least one out-of-focus region of a first image captured atthe primary position with a more in-focus region of another imagecaptured at the other position further comprises: circuitry forcalculating a Fourier transform of at least a part of the first imagecaptured at the primary position.
 52. The system of claim 51, whereinsaid circuitry for calculating a Fourier transform of at least a part ofthe first image captured at the primary position further comprises:circuitry for calculating a Fourier transform of at least one region ofthe first image captured at the primary position associated with atleast one microlens.
 53. The system of claim 44, wherein said imageconstruction unit configured to construct at least one out-of-focusregion of a first image captured at the primary position with a morein-focus region of another image captured at the other position furthercomprises: circuitry for calculating a Fourier transform of at least oneregion of the other image captured at the other position.
 54. The systemof claim 53, wherein said circuitry for calculating a Fourier transformof at least one region of the other image captured at the other positionfurther comprises: circuitry for mapping at least one region of thefirst image captured at the primary position with the at least oneregion of the other image captured at the other position.
 55. The systemof claim 44, wherein said image construction unit configured toconstruct at least one out-of-focus region of a first image captured atthe primary position with a more in-focus region of another imagecaptured at the other position further comprises: circuitry forreplacing at least a part of the at least one out-of-focus region of thefirst image captured at the primary position with at least a part of theat least one region of the other image captured at the other position.56. The system of claim 55, wherein said circuitry for replacing atleast a part of the at least one out-of-focus region of the first imagecaptured at the primary position with at least a part of the at leastone region of the other image captured at the other position furthercomprises: circuitry for utilizing at least one of tiling imageprocessing techniques, morphing image processing techniques, blendingimage processing techniques, and/or stitching image processingtechniques.
 57. The system of claim 44, wherein said image constructionunit configured to construct at least one out-of-focus region of a firstimage captured at the primary position with a more in-focus region ofanother image captured at the other position further comprises:circuitry for correlating a feature of the first image captured at theprimary position with a feature of the other image captured at the otherposition; circuitry for detecting at least one of size, color, ordisplacement distortion of at least one of the first image captured atthe primary position or the other image captured at the other position;circuitry for correcting the detected at least one of size, color, ordisplacement distortion of the at least one of the first image capturedat the primary position or the other image captured at the otherposition; and circuitry for assembling the composite image using thecorrected distortion.
 58. The system of claim 44, further comprising:circuitry for correcting for motion between the first image captured atthe primary position and the other image captured at the other position.59. The system of claim 48, wherein said electro-mechanical systemconfigurable to capture a primary image with at least one microlens ofthe microlens array at a primary position comprises: at least one of arigid body, a spring body, a torsional body, a hydraulic body, and/or anelectro-magnetically actuated body.
 60. The system of claim 48, whereinsaid electro-mechanical system configurable to capture another imagewith the at last one microlens of the microlens array at anotherposition comprises: at least one of a rigid body, a spring body, atorsional body, a hydraulic body, and/or an electro-magneticallyactuated body.
 61. The system of claim 48, wherein saidelectro-mechanical system configurable to determine at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image comprises: at least one ofcircuitry configured to produce a Fourier transform of at least a partof the primary image or an optical structure configured to produce aFourier transform of at least a part of the primary image.
 62. Thesystem of claim 48, wherein said electro-mechanical system configurableto determine a focus of at least one region of the other image relativeto a focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary imagecomprises: at least one of circuitry configured to produce a Fouriertransform of at least a part of the at least one region of the otherimage or an optical structure configured to produce a Fourier transformthe at least one region of the other image.
 63. A system having aprogram product, said program product comprising: a signal bearingmedium bearing at least one of one or more instructions for capturing aprimary image with a microlens array at a primary position, saidcapturing effected with a photo-detector array having an imaging surfacedeviation that exceeds a first tolerance from a target surface position;one or more instructions for determining at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image; one or more instructions for capturinganother image with at least one microlens of the microlens array atanother position; one or more instructions for determining a focus of atleast one region of the other image relative to a focus of the at leastone out-of-focus region of the primary image; and one or moreinstructions for constructing a composite image in response to the atleast one region of the other image having a sharper focus relative tothe focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image.64. A method comprising: capturing a primary image with a microlensarray at a primary position, the microlens array having at least onemicrolens deviation that exceeds a first tolerance from a target opticalproperty; determining at least one out-of-focus region of the primaryimage; capturing another image with at least one microlens of themicrolens array at another position; determining a focus of at least oneregion of the other image relative to a focus of the at least oneout-of-focus region of the primary image; and constructing a compositeimage in response to the at least one region of the other image having asharper focus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image.
 65. The method of claim 64, wherein saidconstructing a composite image in response to the at least one region ofthe other image having a sharper focus relative to the focus of the atleast one out-of-focus region of the primary image further comprises:replacing at least a part of the out-of-focus region of the primaryimage with at least a part of the at least one region of the otherimage.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein said replacing at least apart of the out-of-focus region of the primary image with at least apart of the at least one region of the other image further comprises:utilizing at least one of tiling image processing techniques, morphingimage processing techniques, blending image processing techniques,and/or stitching image processing techniques.
 67. The method of claim64, wherein said constructing a composite image in response to the atleast one region of the other image having a sharper focus relative tothe focus of the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary imagefurther comprises: correlating a feature of the primary image with afeature of the other image; detecting at least one of size, color,and/or displacement distortion of at least one of the primary imageand/or the other image; correcting the detected at least one of size,color, and/or displacement distortion of the at least one of the primaryimage and/or the other image; and assembling the composite image usingthe corrected distortion.
 68. A system comprising: means for capturing aprimary image with a microlens array at a primary position, themicrolens array having at least one microlens deviation that exceeds afirst tolerance from a target optical property; means for determining atleast one out-of-focus region of the primary image; means for capturinganother image with at least one microlens of the microlens array atanother position; means for determining a focus of at least one regionof the other image relative to a focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image; and means for constructing a compositeimage in response to the at least one region of the other image having asharper focus relative to the focus of the at least one out-of-focusregion of the primary image.
 69. The system of claim 68, wherein saidmeans for constructing a composite image in response to the at least oneregion of the other image having a sharper focus relative to the focusof the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image furthercomprises: means for replacing at least a part of the out-of-focusregion of the primary image with at least a part of the at least oneregion of the other image.
 70. The system of claim 69, wherein saidmeans for replacing at least a part of the out-of-focus region of theprimary image with at least a part of the at least one region of theother image further comprises: means for utilizing at least one oftiling image processing techniques, morphing image processingtechniques, blending image processing techniques, and/or stitching imageprocessing techniques.
 71. The system of claim 68, wherein said meansfor constructing a composite image in response to the at least oneregion of the other image having a sharper focus relative to the focusof the at least one out-of-focus region of the primary image furthercomprises: means for correlating a feature of the primary image with afeature of the other image; means for detecting at least one of size,color, and/or displacement distortion of at least one of the primaryimage and/or the other image; means for correcting the detected at leastone of size, color, and/or displacement distortion of the at least oneof the primary image and/or the other image; and means for assemblingthe composite image using the corrected distortion.